Cambridge United have announced the appointments of Godric Smith as a new board member and Duncan Foyle as finance director.

Smith, who was a founding member of Cambridge Fans United, started his career in mental health campaigning in 1980s before spending 15 years in government communications, including 10 years in Downing Street.

Indeed, between 2001-2004 his was then-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman. From there he was communication director at London 2012 from 2006 to the end of the games, before co-founding Inc. in 2013, a London-based communication firm, who sponsor the U’s' training ground.

He has also been a board member at the Cambridge Junction since 2013 and was awarded in CBE in 2004.

And Smith said he was “honoured” to be asked to join the board.

“I am genuinely honoured to be asked to join the board,” he said.

“Cambridge United has always been a big part of my life and I look forward to working together with the board, partners, fans and everyone at the club on what we hope will be an exciting next chapter at the Abbey.”

Foyle, meanwhile, is a replacement for former finance director Steve Chamberlain, who stepped down from his position in June.

He spent the first 15 years of his career in commercial and corporate banking at Lloyds TSB Group, but has since held a number of financial director roles in accounting, telecoms and publishing among others.

He currently acts as finance director to six small to medium size companies in a number of different business areas alongside the Cambridge United board.

“I am looking forward to working with the board and helping to strengthen the club’s financial oversight and governance,” he said. “I have a strong affinity with CUFC as my son was a member of the academy for several years.

“It is a great community club and we are all looking ahead to the season with condidence."

The duo join Ian Mather in recent additions to the United board, and director of business Shaun Grady, said he was “delighted” that they are now at the club.

“We are delighted to appoint Godric to the board of directors and that Duncan will be supporting us as Finance Director. Their qualities and skills will help strengthen the Board further following the recent addition of Ian Mather,” he said.

"Godric is a life-long supporter of Cambridge United since the 1970s and was one of the founder members of CFU.

"He brings significant communications experience from Government, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and now Inc, the company he co founded. Inc. have been a Club sponsor for several years and are an active supporter of the Club’s Community Trust work on mental health.

"Godric has been providing significant advice and support to the Board on a variety of issues for some time and it is terrific that we will now have access to Godric’s expertise and calm, measured good judgement as a fellow Director.'

“Duncan brings very extensive financial experience to the Club.

"He has held multiple Finance Director positions across a variety of businesses and organisations over recent years. Duncan is part of an organisation called the FD Centre and will oversee the Club’s Finances and Finance Team on a part-time, remunerated basis. His appointment will bring additional rigour and discipline to the oversight of the Club’s financial and governance matters going forward.”

It will come as good news to fans, with former chairman Dave Doggett saying at the annual shareholder’s meeting that he pushed for one to take place before his resignation, but "the board failed to cast a majority to approve such a review.”

Cambridge Fans United chairman Robert Osbourn also told the News after their annual general meeting that they would be pushing for an external audit to take place.

He said: “We should pressure the board to instigate [an independent financial audit]. Clearly the shareholders want to have an input to how it’s carried out and what the conditions are."

At that meeting, majority shareholder Paul Barry said that up-to-date accounting was a “pre-requisite.”